I’m Meg. I’m passionate about inclusion, community, and making coaches, climbers, and our community better. Trans climbers belong here.
I’ve been coaching climbing since the 90s. In 2006, I started Team Rock in NY and coached the team for 14 years. I now live in Denver, CO coaching CLMB IQ and coaching climbers all over the country.
Before full-time coaching, I was a Division 1 scholarship athlete and received my BS in Chemistry at Fordham University. I am the current Head Coach of the US Youth National Climbing Team having served on the coaching staff since 2014. I am an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor and an ACE Personal Trainer with a specialization in youth fitness and sports performance.
I co-founded Crux, NY’s LGBTQ Climbing Group, serve on the USAC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Athlete Safeguarding committees, and previously chaired the Coaching Committee. When I’m not coaching, you’ll find me trail racing, playing ultimate frisbee, climbing, running, and adventuring as much as I can with my family.
Who I Work With
CLMB IQ
We started in 2021 as a tiny program, and we’ve proven you don’t need a massive mega-team to build national-level competitors. Most recently, we placed 3rd in Lead in the country! In just a few short years, we’ve coached multiple National Champions and US Team members on the youth and elite circuit.
US Youth National Team
As Head Coach of the US Youth National Team, I’ve had the privilege of guiding our top athletes on the world stage at Youth World Championships, Pan American Championships, and national training camps. Alongside that important work, I’m deeply invested in mentoring fellow coaches, shaping development pathways, and helping strengthen the coaching community from the ground up because developing great coaches is just as essential to the sport as developing great athletes.
Team Rock
This is where it all began, and where Try Hard. Do Good. Have Fun. was born. Out of a single small gym, we built Team Rock into one of the top team programs in the country. We consistently ranked in the top-5 and in 2017, we placed 2nd in Bouldering, 2nd in Sport, and 3rd in Speed nationally, setting a legacy of top-3 finishes. Team Rock alumni are out there crushing it in climbing and beyond.
Athletes I’m Proud To Coach
Results are just a byproduct of the work, the community, and the culture we build together. I am incredibly proud to have worked alongside all of my athletes. Here are some notable accomplishments:
Aiden Harris — US Youth National Team
Alex Inghilterra — National Champion, US Youth National Team
Auggie Chi — Multiple-time National Champion
Brian Squire — National Champion
Cozmo Rothfork — Multiple-time US Youth National Team, World Cup Climber
Darren Skolnik — Multiple US National Team, Pan American bouldering, sport, speed, and overall champion
Isaac Leff — Multiple US National Team, Pan American bouldering, sport, and overall champion
Jo Jo Chi — National Champion
Lilah Kottke — Multiple-time US Youth National Team
Lucas Oddi — Multiple-time National Champion, World Championship Finalist, Pan-Am medalist
Manny Derima — Multiple-time National Champion, Canadian sport, speed, and bouldering Champion
Natalia Grossman — Olympian, World Champion, multiple-time World Cup Winner
Nathan Sato — Multiple-time National Champion, US Youth National Team, Pan-American Champion
Norah Chi — Multiple-time National Champion, World Championship Finalist, Pan-Am medalist
Nova Walker — Lead and Boulder National Champion
Olivia Ma — Multiple US Youth and Elite National Team, Pan American Champion
Rhys Golom — US Youth National Team
Sienna Perez — Multiple-time National Champion
2019 Double Goal Coach of the Year Final Four Winner
Meghan McDonald won the Positive Coaching Alliance’s coveted National Double-Goal Coach® Award presented by TeamSnap for her positive impact on youth sports. The award honors coaches who strive to win while pursuing the more important goal of teaching life lessons through sports. Check out the video below to see Meg in action.
